The European Union (EU) is a major driver of scientific research. A new publication 'Stories of European-Australian Research' highlights the scope of collaboration between Europe and Australia that spans almost every discipline.
These include:
- Breeding grapevine varieties to be resilient in the face of warming temperatures;
- Building the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the biggest scientific instrument in the world;
- Designing 3D printers to make carbon fibre on an industrial scale;
- Overcoming the engineering challenges of hypersonic travel;
- Constructing, launching and operating CubeSats.
One of the first Australia scientists to fully realise the benefits of European collaboration was Kurt Lambeck AO, Emeritus Professor of Geophysics at the Australian National University in Canberra.
Professor Lambeck first took up a position at the University of Delft in The Netherlands in 1964 and taught at different European institutions for many years.
"As Australia's ties deepen with Asia and America, we should not ignore the substantial depth of knowledge and understanding that resides in the EU Member States and their institutions," he says, introducing the collection.
"Access to that, combined with the often more pragmatic approach common to Australian science, is a certain formula for success."
Stories of European-Australian Research is available free in print or digitally at https://stories.scienceinpublic.com.au/EU
The collection is published by Science in Public together with the European Union Delegation to Australia.
Background
Through its Horizon2020 program, the EU has invested approximately €5.9 million ($9.6 million) in Australian research and innovation, supporting scientists at universities and institutes across Australia in areas including health, food, transport, environment, ICT, research infrastructures, and future and emerging technologies.
The European Research Council (ERC), Europe's premier funding organisation for frontier research, has supported more than 48 Australian researchers based in Europe. A further 600 Australians researchers have taken part in EU-supported research projects.
/Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).
